Socket connector



7, 1968 J. s. COONEY 3,382,479

SOCKET CONNECTOR Filed Oct. 10, 1966 INVENTOR.

24 JAMES S. COONEY ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,382,479 SOCKET CGNNECTOR James S. Qooney, Attleboro, Mass., assignor to Pylon Company, Inc., Attleboro, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Oct. 10, 1966, Ser. No. 585,478 6 Claims. (Cl. 339-256) ABSTRAUI BE THE DECLOSURE The present invention relates generally to the electrical art and is more particularly concerned with the provision of .a novel and improved female connector or socket for electrical circuits. This application is related to rapplicants copending application Ser. No. 359,064, filed Apr. 13, 1964, now Patent No. 3,278,890, in that they both relate to the same general type of subject matter.

It has been found that where a plurality of female connectors are mounted on a single plate or base for receiving another plate or base having a like plurality of male connectors in the form of pins or prongs, extremely high insertion and removal forces are required when it is desired to interengage the plates and their contacts to make an electrical connection and, conversely, when it is desired to disengage the plates and their contacts to break said connection. Even though a single socket and its corresponding pin connector may require an insertion and Withdrawal force of only five or six ounces, it will be understood that where a large plurality of pins and sockets are mounted, respectively, on single plates (sometimes in numbers upward of 100), the insertion and removal forces magnify to unmanageable proportions. By the same token, Where a large plurality of sockets and pins are mounted, respectively, on single plates, a serious alignment problem is frequently encountered.

It is, therefore, a primary object of my invention to provide a novel and improved female connector which requires an extremely light insertion and withdrawal force even where the plate or panel comprises a large number of sockets which are simultaneously engaged by a large plurality of male connectors.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a novel and improved female connector which enables greater play to exist between the male connector .and the female connector, thus facilitating proper alignment where a great number of sockets are mounted on a single plate and are simultaneously engaged by a great number of pins which are also mounted on a single panel or plate.

A further object is the provision of a female connector of the character described wherein the electrical engagement between the socket and a suitable male connector is made at a point adjacent the mouth of the socket, thus permitting the use of short pins, which not only results in less expense, but also in less likelihood of the pins being bent out of position.

Another object is the provision of a fem-ale connector capable of achieving the foregoing objectives but which nevertheless provides extremely reliable electrical contact with the male connector, even under conditions of vibration.

3,382,479 Patented May 7, 1968 A further object is the provision of a female connector of the character described that may elfectively receive male connectors of varying cross-sectional configuration.

Still another object of the instant invention is the provision of a female connector of the character described wherein the electrical contact between the male and female connectors is made by means of an elongated coil spring, said coil spring forming a part of the female connector and being oriented therewith in a particular manner hereinafter to be described.

A further object is the provision of a socket of the character described capable of withstanding a relatively large number of insertions and withdrawals without undue wear or fatiguing or other adverse effect on the reliability of the electrical contact being made.

A. further object is the provision of a socket of the character described which is simple and economically feasible to manufacture, is relatively easy to mount for usage, and which is durable and elficient in operation.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent .as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing broken-away portions of a pair of opposed panels, one of said panels having female connectors constructed in accordance with the present invention mounted therein and the other panel having mating male connectors mounted therein;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view illustrating the female connector of the instant invention in engagement with a mating male connector;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevational view, partly in section, of the female connector per se;

FIG. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a slightly modified form of my invention.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, there is shown a pair of opposed plates or panels 10 and 12, respectively, said panels being constructed of any electrically nonconductive material, such as phenolic or the like. Mounted in the panel 10 are a plurality of female connectors or sockets shown generally at 14, while panel 12 has mounted therein a plurality of male connectors in the form of pins, shown enerally at 16. It will be understood that the pins 16 are aligned with the sockets 14 so that when plates 10 and 12 are forced into engagement with each other, the pins 16 will be slidingly received by the sockets 14 so as to establish the desired electrical contact. It will be further understood that the drawings in the instant case illustrate the male and female parts in greatly magnified proportions since in actual use these elements are usually quite small. In addition, the panels or plates 10 and 12 will normally have mounted therein a great number of sockets l4 and mating pins 16, sometimes in the hundreds. This type of multiple connector enjoys wide usage in various types of electrical and electronic circuitry and is frequently used for breadboard work, test fixtures, integrated circuit sockets, mounting of removable components and the like.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be seen that the female connector 14 comprises an elongated tubular body 18, preferably but not necessarily cylindrical. The body 18 is constructed of any desired electrically conductive material, it having been found that a gold-plated base metal performs very satisfactorily. Adjacent the open end 24) of the socket 14 there is provided an internal annular shoulder 22 which defines an annular space 24 andan inner bore 26. Positioned on the shoulder 22 is an elongated spring 28, constructed of any desirable electrically conductive material, suchas gold-plated beryllium copper, for example. As will be noted, the spring 28 is an elongated helical spring formed into a U-shaped configuration and having opposed, substantially straight opposite legs 30. It has been found that the spring 23 may be formed in the preferred U-shaped configuration by winding the legs 30 with initial tension while at the same time winding the curvedcenter portion-32 of the spring loosely so as to minimize the prestressing of said center portion. If the center portion 32 of spring 2% were prestressed, then the spring when mounted in space 24 would tend to assume a circular configuration, rather than the U-shaped configuration, which, for reasons now to be explained, is of great importance in achieving the objectives of the instant invention. 1

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, it is important to note that the legs 30 of spring 23 are spaced from each other a distanceless than the diameter of bore 26, and hence the inner edges of the legs 30 chordally intersect opposite edges of bore 26. At the same time,,the legs .30 more or less chordally intersect the outer periphery of space 24 whereupon when the female connector 14 is disengaged from the male connector 16, a space 34exists between the outer surface of the legs ZSand the peripheral wall 36. This relationship is of extreme importance since it 1 provides flexing roorn forthe legs 31 of spring 28 when the male connector 16 is engaged with the fernale connector 14, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Expressed differently,

the legs 30 function as flexible beams, that are free to flex outwardly upon engagement by a male connector, as opposed, for example, to the type of action that exists in Swiss patent No. 152,679 to Challand where insertion of the male part can be effected only by compression of the individual coils of the spring, thus necessitating relatively great insertion pressure to effect the desired interengagement.

The spring28 may be held in space 24 by any desirable means, although I prefer to accomplish this by rolling over the peripheral wall 36 adjacent entrance opening 20, as shown most clearly at 38 in FIG. 3. This will cause the spring 28 to be maintained between the inwardly extending wall portion 33 and shoulder 22. It is important that when the peripheral wall 36 is rolled inwardly, the inner edge of said wall should define an opening that is in alignment with bore 26 and which has a diameter at least as great as that of bore 26. This is important since otherwise the inwardly extending peripheralwall might interfere with insertion and penetration of male connector 16 into the female connector 14. Also of importance is the fact that spring 28 engages wall 36 rate plurality of points, namely, at center portion 32 and at the outer ends of legs 30, thus insuring good contact between spring 28 and socket 14.

At its opposite extremity the female connector 14 is provided with a conventional, solder tail .4) adapted to receive the electrical wiring that is to be associated with the socket. It will be understood that although the socket 14 is shown as being closed at its lower extremity, this is obviously not necessary, but rather the cylindrical body 18 could terminate at any desired point, leaving an open lower end, and then the electrical wiring could be attached to the body 18 by any suitable means.

As will be seen most clearly in FIG. 2, the socket 14 is mounted in the panel preferablyby being pressed therein, it being understood that the panel 10 is provided with an aperture 42 for receiving the cylindrical body 18 in press-fit relation. The socket 14 will be pressed into panel 10 until the outer annular shoulder 44 of the enlarged entrance portion of the socket engages and abuts the upper surface of the panel, as clearly shown in FIG. 2.

The male connector 16 per se forms no part of the instant invention, but rather this element is of conventional construction, comprising a cylindrical prong 46 and an enlarged upper body portion 48 that is pressed into a suitable aperture 50 in panel 12. It will be understood that the diameter of prongs 46 is dimensioned so as to be received by the bore 26, it being specifically noted that the diameter of prongs 46 is larger than the distance between opposed legs of spring 28.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a slightly modified form of my invention is illustrated. Basically, this form of my invention differs from the form illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4 only in that a pair of springs 28 are superimposed one on top of the other. In this arrangement, it is important to note that opposed legs 30 of one of the springs extend at right angles to the opposed legs 30 of the other spring, whereupon the bore 26 is chordally intersected at two pairs of opposed points. This arrangement has proven to be of particular benefit where male connectors having square or rectangular pins are used since better electrical contact is made. It should be understood, however, that even in the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the prongs 46 need not be cylindrical, but rather pins having other cross sectional configurations can be used, and effective electrical continuity is still established when the male and female parts are interengaged.

In operation and use, the plates 10 and 12 are brought into engagement with each other so as to cause the prongs 46 to enter the openings 2% of sockets 14, the prongs being frictionally and resiliently received by the conductive spring 28. The resilience and flexibility of spring 28 enables the pin 46 to penetrate into socket 14 and its bore 26 with a relatively light insertion force, even where the plates 10 and 12 carry a large number of sockets 14 and male connectors 16 all making simultaneous engagement. Conversely, when it is desired to separate the panels 10 and 12 so as to break the electrical continuity therebetween, only a very light withdrawal force will be required, once again even though a great many sockets and male connectors are mounted in the respective plates.

In view of the fact that the spring 28 is mounted closely adjacent to the open end of socket 14, it will be seen that electrical contact is made with pin 46 very shortly after the pin enters the socket. This is highly advantageous in that it enable relatively short pins to be used without in any way affecting the electrical engagemen-t that is being made. The use of shorter pins not only results in less expense, but minimizes the danger of pins being inadvertently bent out of position. It will be understood that electrical contact is made as soon as pin 46 engages spring 28, and, in fact, in many cases the pin 46 makes no engagement whatsoever with the tubular body of socket 14. Due to the fact that the pins 46 contact spring 28 at multiple points, and in view further of the fact that spring 28 contacts the body of socket 114 at a plurality of points, good electrical continuity is assured, even when the engaged panels are under severe vibration. At the same time, the lateral play which exists between pin 46 and socket 14 facilitates alignment of panels .10 and 12 where the panels comprise a large number of sockets and male connectors.

Use of the metallic spring 28 as the electrical conductor between pin 46 and socket 14 has proven to be highly desirable since the metallic spring, particularly when constructed of gold-plated beryllium copper, provides an extremely good electrical conductor, and one which will withstand relatively high temperatures. In addition, the spring 28 is not nearly so susceptible to wear as is true where the conductive element is made from a softer material. It is also important to note that the U- shaped configuration of spring 28 may be varied, although the important thing is that the spring have a relatively straight leg that chordally intersects bore 26 and that is free to flex outwardly in annular space 24 when engaged by pin 46.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structures embodying the invention, it will be manitest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A female connector comprising a hollow body of electrically conductive material, said body having a peripheral wall open at one end for receiving an elongated pin, an elongated helical spring member constructed of electrically conductive material having a portion extendin-g substantially chordally across the opening defined by said peripheral wall, said portion being free to flex outwardly of the opening when engaged by said pin when the latter is inserted into said connector, said spring member being of substantially U-shaped configuration, the opposed legs of said U-shaped configuration each extending substantially chordally across opposite edges of the aforesaid opening.

2. The connector of claim 1 further characterized in that a second U-shaped spring is provided in overlying relation to the first spring member, said second spring being substantially identical to said first one, but having its opposed legs extending substantially perpendicular to the opposed legs of said first spring, whereby said opening is chordally intersected at four portions of its periphery.

3. The connector of claim 1 further characterized in that said spring member is preformed so that its opposed legs are more tightly wound than is the curved portion of the spring that interconnects said opposed legs.

4. A female connector comprising a tubular body of rigid, electrically conductive material, said body being open at least at one end thereof and having an internal peripheral shoulder adjacent said open end, said shoulder defining an inner bore adapted to slidably receive a male pin, said shoulder having an outer peripheral wall extending substantially parallel to said bore and then being formed inwardly to provide an entrance opening in alignment With said bore and of a diameter at least equal to that of said bore, said shoulder and peripheral wall cooperating to define an annular space adjacent said entrance opening, and an elongated, electrically conductive helical spring member mounted in said space, said spring memher having a substantially straight portion extending substantially chordally across an edge portion of said bore, said straight portion also substantially chordally intersecting the outer periphery of said annular space, said spring member making engagement with said peripheral Wall at a plurality of points, said spring member being of substantially U-shaped configuration, the opposed legs of said U-shaped configuration each extending substantially chordally across opposite edges of the aforesaid opening.

5. The connector of claim 4 further characterized in that a second U-shaped spring is provided in overlying relation to the first spring member, said second spring being substantially identical to said first one, but having its opposed legs extending substantially perpendicular to the opposed legs of said first spring, whereby said bore and annular space are chordally intersected at four portions of their periphery.

6. The connector of claim 4 further characterized in that said spring member is preformed so that its opposed legs are more tightly wound than is the curved portion of the spring that interconnects said opposed legs.

References Cited 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,444,433 7/ 1948 Erb 339-256 2,775,746 12/1956 Young 339-256 2,882,514 4/1959 Krantz 339-256 2,898,102 8/1-959 Armstrong 339--255 2,912,668 11/1959 Eddy 339--256 FOREIGN PATENTS 105,795 11/ 1938 Australia.

227,696 4/ 1960 Australia.

997,233 9/ 1951 France.

Ad. 29,822 1914 Great Britain.

OTHER REFERENCES DAS 1,036,971, August 1958, German printed application, Werner et al., 339-256(S).

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner. PERRY TEITELBAUM, Assistant Examiner. 

